In a landmark push for greater female representation, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has fielded ten women candidates in its initial roster of 237 hopefuls for the forthcoming 13th parliamentary elections, with party Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia leading the charge by contesting three constituencies simultaneously.
The announcement, made amid a charged atmosphere at the BNP's Gulshan office, highlights the opposition’s commitment to empowering women in a polity long dominated by male voices.
Khaleda Zia, the three-time former prime minister and a symbol of resilience despite health woes and past convictions, will stand in Dinajpur-3, Bogra-7, and Feni-1 – seats that span diverse regional strongholds and underscore her personal stake in the BNP’s revival.
"These women are not just candidates; they are the vanguard of change," declared BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir during Monday evening's press conference on November 3. Flanked by standing committee members, organising secretaries, and associate organising secretaries, Fakhrul stressed that the list remains fluid, open to tweaks as coalition negotiations unfold under the interim government's reform agenda.
The other nine female contenders, poised to challenge the status quo in their respective arenas, are:
Natore-1: Farzana Sharmin
Jashore-2: Sabira Sultana
Jhalokati-2: Israt Sultana Elen Bhutto
Sherpur-1: Sansila Zebrin
Manikganj-3: Afroza Khan Rita
Dhaka-14: Sanjida Islam Tuli
Faridpur-2: Shama Obaid
Faridpur-3: Nayab Yusuf Kamal
Sylhet-2: Tahsina Rushdir
This diverse lineup – spanning urban power centres like Dhaka to rural heartlands – reflects the BNP's strategy to harness women's voices in a post-Hasina era marked by calls for inclusive governance.
With the paddy sheaf emblem of the BNP set to fly high, these candidates embody the party's narrative of democratic restoration and gender equity.
As Bangladesh hurtles towards polls expected in early 2026, the inclusion of these ten women has ignited debate: allies praise it as progressive, while detractors question the concentration of power in Zia's multi-seat gambit.
One thing is clear – these contenders are ready to reap electoral harvests in a field ripe for upheaval.